Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor Video: Crafting a Story

Troy Baker, the voice of protagonist Talion, and cinematic director and co-writer Christian Cantamessa star in the video above and talk briefly about the narrative in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. This game will expand upon Tolkien's work and bridges 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings.' According to Cantamessa, the challenge was to build something new on the foundation already set by Tolkien while retaining respect for both the scholars and the fans involved with the series.

All of the scenes are informed by the lore and carry lots of emotion and weight. Baker said, "There's not one scene in this game that is superfluous. Everything is incredibly purposeful, and if it wasn't, it got cut."

The conversations between Cantamessa and Baker have a huge role in shaping the story, since Cantamessa would ask the actor how he felt, as Talion, the story should move along. The result is a series of very cinematic scenes that flow with a narrative style not unlike the films.